gak27

Rumor has it Madison has already put in a request for the roof/window option 😎:

...and it IS set in 2022...😎

From many excellent posts on this thread I chose these two to quote since they both reference a viewpoint regarding how music has changed in drum corps that closely match mine. I highlighted the section in Craiga's post because I, too, would have never heard many of those pieces if not for drum corps (59 years old here). Jjeffeory's post points to the "how" that frequently undermines the recognizability / accessibility / "earworminess" of much of today's drum corps musical offerings. Craiga's reference to 1987 SCV is a classic example: their version of Russian Christmas Music was just over 3 minutes long, with almost continual playing by the horn line. Except for the occasional ballad, who does that these days? And without at least one battery/front ensemble break?

Excellent discussion so far, and way too many points I agree with to effectively use multiquote 😎 I think this topic encapsulates a lot of the "disconnect / discordant / fuzziness / whatever" aspect of today's visuals that I sometimes have a difficult time with. In no way am I commenting on the members; this is solely on programming / design / trends. When done WELL (high unison, well-transitioned, low "blob") I think it's highly effective and allows for large amounts of ground to be transitioned where in the past we would have used 32 counts of drill to cover. I also, however, think the staging / run to position / impact phrase / rinse-repeat mindset diminishes the group effect and focuses more on what each individual is conveying. It makes it (IMO) less precise and less pleasing to eyes used to precision/uniformity equaling excellence as being an ideal in the drum corps experience. Again, no knock at all on the high talent level of today's members, it just seems the talent is directed towards things that don't enhance that large/group visual "wow" we associate with drum corps. Again, great thread so far.

Narration by Clint Eastwood 😎

I knew that was you!

Being (essentially) a lifelong fan - first saw them in '74 - I'm feeling the same way. Full disclosure - I have only seen video to date and that will likely be my only venue this year (they are not coming to the Akron show). I am all for the softer, sophisticated Vanguard that we've experienced in the past and I really hope this comes together to a high enough degree. There are times where (to me) this show feels like an assemblage of exercises/moments designed for scoring, and the "magic" of how they're all tied together just doesn't seem to be there. I'm also struggling with all the posing / tumbling / etc being done by the hornline - I get the feeling that they're not being used enough as the primary musical source and "it's all about the visual". Regardless, I still love this corps and am truly disappointed that I will not get to see them in person. One other observation - is there no Star being worn on the unis this year?

Yesssss.... I grew up to listening to them on this LP:

Marched with the Royal Crusaders that year and yes, Birmingham was a true cauldron that year. Heavy, blue and red wool unis here, with shakos. Even under the end zone stands, in the shade, there was little respite from the heat/humidity. As for water and salt tablets and all the rest, there were always those 5 gallon metal water jugs (precursors to the ubiquitous orange Igloo coolers) with the paper cone dispenser on the side.......

And if they do perform - say in their sectional colors (t-shirts / hats / whatever) would the visual portion of the show look sharper / less cluttered / more easily discerned? 😎

FLO is BRINGING IT this year

Revised that for you 😎

To shamelessly borrow a discussion point from another thread - "familiarity, development of the musical phrase, impactful drill vs staging..."

I also LOVE that the YT PR channel showed up on a show video to read the comments and chat:

That...was...AMAZING! 😂 I will never be able to watch that movie again without thinking of this version, and for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Or Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute?

This actually made me snort in laughter...

My 11 year old self was there and loved you guys! In fact, the entire top 6 had that place jumping! My dad's "from the stands" tapes from that night - complete with him announcing the corps and recording the score announcements - are still quite listenable...

or this guy. https://youtu.be/t3PMy_V-A_o?t=160 🙂

Echoes of a Distant Harmonic Journey Return to Harmonic Journey

But you can rationalize using that toothpaste to clean the rest of the sink...hey, it foams, doesn't it? 😁

I see what you did there... 🙂

I was 12...and in the show...how times change...